Every morning I put about thirty tiny spirulina algae tablets on top of my morning smoothie. Then, in the evening, I often swallow another handful of tiny chlorella tablets to satiate my appetite. After that, I have to rinse out my mouth with water if I want my wife to kiss me, but it's all worth it because... ...regardless of whether you think that us land-dwelling creatures at some point evolved from ocean-dwelling life (a belief espoused by my previous podcast guest Jack Kruse to encourage people spend time in the cold and to eat more seafood), it can’t be denied that fish, turtles, and millions of other large and small inhabitants of water rely on one extremely dense nutrition source for sustenance of life… …algae – particularly from spirulina and chlorella sources. And (especially for vegans and vegetarians), it is the only way to get absorbable, brain-building DHA from a plant-based source. Chia seeds and flax seeds don't get converted into DHA. Algae has 40 vitamins and minerals, more protein then steak, more iron than liver, more calcium than milk, more chlorophyll than kale, more antioxidants than berries and provides so much steady energy and focus, that your performance improves all without chemicals, caffeine, sugar, gluten, soy, animal products or stomach distress. Algae is also an eco-friendly, sustainable crop that releases oxygen while it is growing, produces 100 times more protein per acre than beef and provides the safest, vegan, source of Omega 3. It is grown in fresh water tanks, not the ocean so it protects the ocean’s ecosystem too.

And there's only one calorie in a single tab. My guest on today's podcast is Catharine Arnston, and she puts my own algae consumption to shame, eating 75 pieces of chlorella and 75 pieces of spirulina every day. She holds an MBA from Western’s Ivey School of Business, and a BA in geography and economic development from Queen’s University. She is a Board Certified Health Counselor from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a REIKI Master. She is also an algae expert and the CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of ENERGYbits, a sports nutrition company that sells algae in tablet form to athletes and consumers (click here and use code BEN to save 10% on any of their algae products).

Catharine founded ENERGYbits eight years ago after she became aware of the health and athletic benefits of a plant based diet. When she subsequently learned that algae was the most nutrient dense plant in the world and that Asians had been growing it and benefiting from it for fifty years, she made it her life mission to bring algae into the mainstream so others could benefit from this superfood too.

During our discussion, you'll discover:

-What exactly algae is...

-Which specific form of algae works best for pre or during workouts, and the appropriate hourly dosage...

-Which form of algae has the identical nutritional profile to mother's milk...

-The blue-green pigment in one specific form of algae that has been shown in research to enhance muscle recovery...

-Why, based on RNA and DNA content, sardines and algae are two of the most potent anti-aging foods on the face of the planet...

-How chlorophyll allows the body to produce ATP, even in the absence of calories...

-Which type of algae acts as a natural source of sun protection and prevention of radiation damage...

-And much more!

Resources from this episode: -How To Eat Algae (The Ultimate Guide To Fueling With Spirulina And Chlorella). -Mother's Milk and ENERGYbits Spirulina Profile -Mother's Milk Amino Profile from Biological Chemistry -ENERGYbits Label with Amino Acid -Mothers Milk and ENERGYbits® Spirulina, Virtually the Same Nutritional Profile

Do you have questions, comments, or thoughts for Catharine or I about algae, spirulina, chlorella, or anything else algae related? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply.

You can also click here and use code BEN to save 10% on any of the algae products I personally use, including spirulina ENERGYbits and chlorella RECOVERYbits.